Bangladesh Bank’s work to financially include young people was recognized at the recent 2024 AFI Global Policy Forum, when the bank received the AFI Global Youth Financial Inclusion Award.

“Youth financial inclusion not only boosts the economic well-being of our young people,” explained Bangladesh Bank Executive Director, Husne Ara Shikha. “It also drives overall economic growth, making it a top priority.”

The award recognizes Bangladesh Bank’s work to designed financial literacy frameworks to guide banks and financial institutions in developing financial literacy activities and business training for students and youth. Bangladesh Bank has also developed a start-up fund offering loans to entrepreneurs – especially women – aged between 21 and 45.

A seven-year financial literacy campaign has resulted in the opening of over 430,000 school bank accounts, with 48.9 percent of female students now owning bank accounts.

A newly launched website provides financial literacy and customer support to the country’s youth, while a chapter dedicated to financial literacy has been added to the country’s primary, secondary and high education curricula.